Expulsion cut-out



Sept- 13 1932. w. A. HEINRICH lExPULsroN cUT-ou'r Filed oct. 22, 1928 nl 0 H n l m 2 Dm S 2 l RN PVD ,I ce, of on m /HH//f//f/// f /ff O E T VT mA A Patented Sept. 13, 1932 waarna annmnrcn, or sr. Louis, M Issounrv nxrULsIorr CUT-our appimuoa ma oetober'az, 192s, serial Ramales.

This invention relates to fuse` switches and methodsv of making same,and particularly to the type of fuse switches known as expulsioncut-outs. A 4

5 The rupture of fuses in electric circuits, due to thepassage ofexcessiye current, is, in s most cases, accompanied by an '.arc which'bridges the broken ends of thefuse conductor. This arc, which is due ingreat measure lo to the"'presence of current conducting gases, is apttoreach dangerous proportions in circuits transmitting and means must berovided to interrupt the arc immediately a ter it has been formed.

In the expulsion type fuse, this 'is accomplished by causing the raidliylr expandin ases vand vapgrs, createdyt e volatilize use` wire toexpelled from the ruptured fuse conductor with sufficient force to snap20 and extinguish the arc'.

The expulsion type fuse cutout herein described, consists,v in the main,of, two se arable parts. They are, briel ,the porce ain housing to whichis secured t e terminal con- 25 nector's, and the fuse cartridge, whichin constructionissimilartoagunbarrelandisadapted removably to engage theterminalconnectors within the porcelain housing. When itl becomesnecessary to replace a brokenl fuse, 4 '30 the cartridge is. pulledentirely-clear of the housin the destroyed fuse removed, a new one sutituted, and the cartridge replaced..

Under severe short-circuit, -the fuse explodes 35- vided to prevent thecartrid being blown, due toA recoil action, entire y clear of thehousing. Such means are found in certain of the prevailing types of fusecutouts, toY

arge amounts. of power,

with great violence, and means must be proof improved locking andcartridge removing means forms 'a partial objective of the presentinvention.

' Vitrl'ied porcelain, because of its strength and ood insultingproperties, 'is widely used or f use housings. A disadvantage of. theuse of this materiahhas heretofore been encountered in the difliculty ofeffecting a satisfactory fastening lof the terminal connectors, contactclips, etc., to the porcelain, due to the fact that after the porcelainhas' been fired, it is almost impossible todrill or thread it. The oldmethod employed for fastening these members to tJhe housing was y to uselead or cement, but these4 materials have proven quite unsatisfactory.When lead is used to'bond a live element to the porcelain housing,conditions for condenser actionare usually set up, causing sparking. andleakage around the porcelainv which result in radio interference. Thedisadvantage in theuse of cement for the aforementioned purpose, liesinthe timerequired for setting,` and the extreme care which must beexercised in the cementingprocess. Where secure?. ment is made with leador cement as the bond, itis usually vnecessary to increase the ,exteriordiameter of the housing, as the'thickness of the vporcelain vmust bemaintained throughout. The present method, to be described, is directedtothe elimination of the disadvantages mentioned in .joiningmetal artswith porcelain Vor similar ceramic Furtherpdiilculties arise fromtheAfact-that ygg, y i

there must beno live parts of switch or fuse, nor any screws, nuts`bolts or other live parts, exposed on the outside of .the housing tobe.- come grounded or to co e into accidental v contact with a person wo-ing'on the line.

A further objectof this invention, therefore, is to provide a simple andinexpensive means and method for securing terminal conc,

Oblt ,is to'provide-im- Further objects are vcuring the upper anplacing-the cartridge being required to ac complish this purpose. l

directed toward ease of operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following-detaileddescription and the accompanying illustration of apreferred embodimentofmy invention, in which:

'Fig'. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation,

showing the parts assembled in operational relation; Fig. 2 is a planlooking into the cutout fromthe bottom, withthe cartridge removed forclearness; and Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 constitute parts of an explodedelevational view, partly in section, showing details of construction ofa number of the major-ele,- ments. v

Referring by numerals to the drawing, the porclain housing is of tubularconstruction, its outer surface being preferably corrugated for reasonswell known in the art. Grooves 5 and 6 internally disposed in the wallsof the porcelain housing and at an appreciable distance from the ends,rovide means for selower terminal connectors 7 and 8 to the housing. Thehousing is shown as being of lesser internal diameter between thegrooves, forming shoulders 9 and`10. Obviously, the grooves 5 and 6 arenot required to be annular as shown, but may .consist of notches orindentations internally disposed in the walls of the housing, and whichwill serve the same purpose as that of the annular grooves, although-Iprefer to use the construction shown. j

- The lower terminal connector -8, of such a 'shape and size as to causea snug fit within the housing, is rovided with a central aperture 11,and wit contact clips 12, adapted to receive, in removable engagement, alower '4 fuse clamp and contact member, hereinafter described. Spacedaround, and extending at an angle from the outer periphery of theterminal connector is aplurality of prongs or fingers', 13, for thepurpose of holding the terminal connector securely to the porcelainhousing. This is accompllshed by inserting the terminal connector intheporcelain housin and seating it firmly against the intervna shoulder10 formed by the .constricted central portion of the housing. The'prongs13 are then driven or pressed radiallyoutwardly and into the grooves orlnotches in the housing walls, thus permanently locating the terminalconnector and preventing its being moved or pulled from the housing. Asimilar set of prongs or their equivalent 14, serves to position theterminal connector 7, disposed on the end of the housing opposite therecited connector, 8. Suitable binding posts or lugs, 15 and 16, areformedl on the terminal connectors to provide for engagement by the con.

ductors, one of which is shown at 17, suitable entrance openings for thelconductors being provided and one shownat 18. l

the u per fuse clamp and to the explosion l cham r, hereinafterdescribed.

The fuse cartridge consists essentially, of the explosion chamber 19,the insulating tube 20 and the lower fuse clamp and contact member 21. Aporcelain closure or cap for the housing is indicated at 22 and servesalso as an insulated handle for removing and replacing the cartridge.Rigidly secured to, and ependent from the cap along its longitudinalaxis, is a frame-like structure 23 provided with transverse members 24.member 23 loosely engages, and is slidably associated with an exteriorangulate por tion ofthe explosion chamber 19, and acts upon the. latterthrough Contact clips 25, which are fastened to the explosion chamber bymeans of screws or rivets, asshown. The contact clips 25, which arepreferably constructed in strip form of a good conducting and resilientmetal, are bent inwardly to form an acute angle with the contactsurface,

26. Fingers 27 preferably formed integrally with, and projectingoutwardly from the contact surface 26, are adapted to be brought The toregister with the notches 28 in the upper tween the elements 24 and 25.An outward pull on the porcelain cap forces the transverse element 24 ofthe frame structure 23 against the, portion 29 ofthe contact clips,thereby constricting the clips and drawing the fingers 27 out of thenotches 28, and allowing the cartridge to be freely removed from thehousing. From the form-of con. lnection between the transverse members24 and the contact clips 25, it will be seen that an outward, orwithdrawing movement of the handle or closureelement 22, does notinitially impart any movement, either to the contact clipsor to thecartridge as a whole.

Continuedl outward movement ofthe member 23v results, first, inconstricting the clips,

.but still without lmovement of the cartridge;

lstill further movement of the handle or clo sure element 22 serves toapply a hammerlike blow or jar, due to the impact between transverseportions 24 and the outer hook ends 30, of the clips. This lost-motionor delayed-motion connection between thev fuse cartridge and handle forwithdrawing it, aids lmaterially in unseating a cartridge which hasbeenlong in service, and where `the contacts may have become corrodedto' '15 through the insulatin tube, the fuse is doubledback on the outsie of the tube, and then secured to the lower contact member 2 1 by meansofset screw 33.

It is to be observed from the foregoing des cri tion that the inventionprovides an expedlent and economical method .for securing terminalconnectors, contacts, and other similar parts, enerally, to porcelainhousings,

and also loc ing means whereby a fuse carryin member is revented frombein removed g P g from the housm by recoil action which results fromthe vlolent blowing of a fuse, but which means permits the fusecarrying'member, under `any existing condition, to be un- '3 locked andeasily removed by a single, rectilinear movement ofthe handle.

Having described a preferred embodiment of my invention, which in mypresent belief illustrates the best mode of applylng theprinciplesthereof, I am,`at,the same time, aware that the invention may beembodied in other forms, all of which are intended to be included withinthe scope of the following claims. C

I claim as my invention;

1. In a fuse switch and the like, an enclosure, a-fuse, a manipulatingelement therefor and locking means whereby the fuse may be released fromthe enclosure and `dis osed therein for se'curementI against expu s1on,

said means adapted to be operated by reciprocating movement ofthemanipulating element. e I l 2. ,I'n a fuse switch and the like, anlenclosure, a fuse, a manipulating element therefor,

and means whereby thefuse ,may be placed in locked engagement with,secured a alnst `expulsion, and removed from the enc osure by movementof the mampulatlng element entirely within a .rectilinearpathmtersecting said enclosure.

3. In a fuse switch, an enclosure,a fuse holding element, and securingmeans there- 'i for whereby said element is adapted to be 1: withdrawnfrom, replaced, and locked in said' enclosure against pressures internalof the enclosure, said means being operable solely by endwise movementof the element relative to the enclosure. 4'.In' a fuse'switch andtheilike an enclosure,"`a fuse, a mani ulatin element therefor, andmeans where y the use may be securedV against expulsion pressures,within the i.

enclosure, and released from the enclosure by rectilinear movement' ofthe manipulating e ement.

5. In a fuse switch and the like, an enclosure, a fuse, a fusemanipulating element arranged for movement along lts axis, and meanswhereby the fuse may be placed in locked engagement with, and releasedfrom the enclosure by axial movement of the manipulating element.

6. In a fuse switch, an enclosure, a removable fuse-holding element,adapted to be disposed within t e enclosure, an insulatin member formanipulation of said element an means 'connecting said element andmember in lost-motion engagement.

7. In a fuse switch, an insulatingbody, a.

removable fuse-holder, adapted.y` to be disposed within the body, aninsulated manipu-` lating member associated with the fuse' holder and..constituting a closure for the. body, andv means connectin themanipulating member and fuse ho der, said means ada ted for initiatingthemovement ofthe hol er, by impact. v

8. Ina fuse switch, an enclosure, a removabley fuse holding element, andcontacts therefor, adapted tobe disposed within the enclosure, aninsulating h ndle associated with said holding elementY and means asso-lciating' said handlein lost-motion relation with said holding elementand contacts.

. 9. In a fuse switch, an enclosure therefor, a fuse holder and contactsada ted to be disposed within the enclosure a andle for the fuse holder,and means, operatively connectin the handle, 'contacts and fuse holder,

and a apted upon movement ofthe handle,

` ment of sai to efect a movement of said contacts in advance ofAmovement of said fuse holder.

10. In a fusekswitch, an enclosure therefor, a fuse holder adapted to beremovably disposed within the enclosure, a handle for manipulatin saidfuse holder and flexible contact mem ersl operatively connecting said'fuse holder and handle.

'11. In a fuse switch, an enclosure there-i for, a fuse holder andcontact member adapted to be removably disposed within the enclosure, ahandle for said fuse holder and means associated with said handleandcontact member, said means ada ted to ermit 4aninitiating movement ofsai holder y impact, uponactuation of said handle.

12. In a fuse' switch, an enclosure therefor, vai fuse holder andcontact members adapted to be removably disposed within the enclosure, ahandle for said fuse holder, and means associated with 'the handle foractuating saidA contacts, independently ofl movefusebholder. 13. In 'ause switch, an

enclosure therelaoA for, a fuse cartridge removably disposed Within theenclosure, a'handle for actuating said cartridge, locking elements forthe fuse holder and means associated vwith the handle 5 for actuatingsaid locking elements independently of the fuse holder. 14. In a fuseswitch, an enclosure therefor, a fuse cartridge, and contacts carriedthereby, removably disposed within theen- 4 closure; a handle forremoving and inserting said cartridge and means for permittin anunseating movement of said cartridge an contacts by impactive movementof the handle.

I "1'5 15. In a fuse switch, an enclosure therefor, a fuse holderremovably disposed within the enclosure, a handle for said fuse holder,and combined contact members and locking elements for the fuse holder,said members 2o serving structurally to connect said handle and saidfuse holder.

16. In a fuse switch, an enclosure therefor, a fuse holder removablydisposed within the enclosure, a handle for said fuse holder, andcombined contact members and locking means for the fuse holder, saidlocking means bein adapted for actuation by the handle in a vance of anymovement of the fuse holder.

80 17. In a fuse switch, an enclosure therefor, a fuse cartridge,contacts lcarried by said cartridge, a handle for said cartridge andmeans for engaging and disengaging said contact members by manipulationof the handle, and independentlyof movement of the cartridge.

18. In a fuse switch, an enclosure therefor, a fuse holder removablydisposed withinthe enclosure, a manipulating. element for 4o the holder,constituting a portion of the enclosure, and a one-piece locking elementand contactl member associated with the fuse holder,.and serving toconnect the fuse holder and manipulating element. v

l19. In a fuse switch, a tubular enclosure therefor, a fuse cartridgeremovably disposed within the enclosure, contact members adapted to locksaid cartridge within the enclosure, and means external to theenclosure, for eecting a movement of said contacts, independently ofmovement 'of said cartridge. WALTER A. yHEINRICH.

